Downtown Midland Holiday Open House offers discounts, new products

Downtown Midland business owners are enticing holiday shoppers by offering discounts, refreshments and new merchandise during the annual Holiday Open House.

The event, hosted by the Midland Downtown Business Association, began Thursday and ends Sunday.

Cynde Larsen, store manager at Ray’s Bike Shop, said shoppers will want to check out what the downtown businesses have to offer.

“It’s a great way to support local businesses,” she said.

Besides the great deals, Larsen said the downtown businesses offer interesting items that make great holiday gifts.

She has already taken advantage of the open house deals and purchased items at Rockwell House and Coyer Candle.

“They have a two for $25 special,” she said of the Libbey Status candles she purchased earlier in the day Coyer Candle.

When it comes to promotion, there isn’t much competition among the stores. Most stores participating have a stack of fliers advertising specials for the other downtown stores.

“I always tell shoppers what the other stores are offering,” Larsen said. “It’s great to support the other businesses.”

The bike shop is offering “deals you can’t refuse.”

Some of them include 25 percent off all tools and lubricants today, 25 percent off all accessories including free installation labor today and Saturday and $100 off any 2011 or prior year bicycle in stock.

The shop is also offering free clinics. Today at 6 p.m., a clinic on “how to clean your drive train and change a tire” is scheduled.

Peel ‘n Pare had a busy first day and enticed customers with hors d’oeuvres, gourmet coffee, eggnog and Christmas cookies.

“It went really well — we had a good crowd of people,” employee Leah Ware said.

Their first 25 customers on Thursday received a free cutting board with a minimum $25 purchase. Other Peel ‘n Pare specials include a free digital timer when purchasing $50 in Wusthof knives. The store is also giving away a buffet server by Waring Pro.

Rockwell store owner Amy Rebant also said their first day was a success.

“It was wonderful,” she said.

“There are some great stores downtown that people may not be familiar with and products change frequently,” Rebant added.

Stopping in downtown shops every once in a while just might pay off.

“If you haven’t been here in a few months you’ll see new products,” she said.

A Holiday Open House Rockwell special includes a free Pandora Multi-Strand or Five-Clip Station Bracelet (valued up to $115) with any Pandora purchase of $200 or more. Rockwell also is offering 20 percent off store-wide. Rebant said that deal excludes Pandora, Brighton and Sid Dickens.